March 17 marked the sixth anniversary of a concerted assault against Serbs and other ethnic minorities in Kosovo that resulted in 800 Serbian homes and thirty five Orthodox churches and monasteries being destroyed, 4,000 Serbs and Roma (Gypsies) forced to flee their homes, 900 hundred people injured and 19 killed.

The attacks followed the accidental drowning of three ethnic Albanian youth which local separatist politicians and media attributed to the actions of Serbs and used to incite an orgy of intolerance, ethnic hostility and violence.

They marked the worst, and deadliest, violence in the Balkans since NATO’s 78-day bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 and the war in Macedonia two years later launched by an offshoot of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) operating out of NATO-occupied Kosovo. Clashes occurred between ethnic Albanians and Serbs and between both and NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops. The dead and wounded included members of all three groups.

As the states’ credit crisis deepens, four states have initiated bills for state-owned banks, and candidates in seven states have now included that solution in their platforms.

“Hundreds of job-creating projects are still on hold because Michigan businesses and entrepreneurs cannot get bank financing. We can break the credit crunch and beat Wall Street at their own game by keeping our money right here in Michigan and investing it to retool our economy and create jobs.”

Is the United States planning to bomb Iran? A British newspaper has reported the United States is shipping bombs to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to possibly do just that. Lawrence Wilkerson says that if the US is, they cannot simply use airstrikes to attack Iran.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio announced on Wednesday he would switch his vote on the Democrat-led healthcare reform bill and support the legislation even though it does not create a public option. Kucinich’s decision came two days after he spoke with President Obama aboard Air Force One on their way to a rally in his district. In a Democracy Now! exclusive, we spend the hour with Kucinich and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader for an in-depth discussion on healthcare, the Obama administration, the Iraq war and more.

Vice President Joe Biden’s recent visit to Israel, where he expressed the United States’ commitment to its security, was tarnished by the Israeli Interior Ministry’s announcement that it would build 1,600 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem (perhaps a not-so-subtle message to the White House, located 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?).

It was a slap in the face to Biden who was urging Palestinians to engage in peace negotiations with the Israelis. But the announcement is one of a list of “facts on the ground” created by Israel that cast shadows over its commitment to a viable two-state solution. Those in the White House today, and those who wish to be in it tomorrow, should take the time to reconsider their “special relationship” with Israel. Canada would benefit from doing the same. Last month, the Harper government preposterously suggested that an attack on Israel would be considered an attack on Canada.

Tells House Subcommittee That Final Administration Decision On Trials Still “Weeks Away”

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CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – In testimony before a House Appropriations Subcommittee today, Attorney General Eric Holder defended the merits of his November decision to try the 9/11 defendants in federal criminal court, but nevertheless stated that the administration may still consider using the untested military commissions, instead. Holder said a final decision regarding the 9/11 suspects was “weeks away.”

Since 9/11, the military commissions have resulted in three terrorism-related convictions. Federal courts, on the other hand, have produced over 300.

The Radio and Television Correspondents Association gathered for their annual dinner. Awards were presented to journalists for their contributions to the news industry. Speakers included Vice President Joe Biden and comedian Joe Wong.

“He entered this whole process in a spirit of compromise, holding his hand out, and the other side didn’t want any hand being held out toward them. They wanted to slap that hand away. And he should have come in there just like the Republicans do: When they’re in power and they want to get something done, they come in with guns blazing and they get it done. And our side, we break out the the six-string guitar and start singing Kumbaya. And I’m sick of it — and the American people are sick of it, too. … Oh, I know. I’ve got a bill. Let’s give 70% of the women the right to vote and leave 30% out. There’s a great idea. Because we’ve got to do it in increments, Wolf. We can’t let ALL the women vote all at once. We can’t free ALL the slaves. Let’s keep 30% of them enslaved. That’s how this town is run though, isn’t it? They compromise to the lowest possible denominator.” — Michael Moore on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

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The Senate voted to save net neutrality. Now we need the House of Representatives to do the same, or else the FCC will let ISPs like Comcast and Verizon ruin the internet with throttling, censorship and unnecessary fees. Click the image below to write to Congress.

The Golden Rule

“That which is hateful to you do not do to another ... the rest (of the Torah) is all commentary, now go study.” - Rabbi Hillel

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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